2018 ISPS HANDA Chatham Cup

Was looking at the results on the website and saw that. Was thinking would have been exciting to see live, down 0-2 and then goal in the 90+3 and a pen in the 90+5. Springs scoring 110 min only for Birkenhead to score in the 112 and 114. Amazing.

Quarter Finals

Nelson Suburbs v East Coast Bays

Wairarapa United v Birkenhead United

Manukau United \ Mt Albert Ponsonby v Cashmere Technical

Onehunga Sports v Western Suburbs

So I missed last round and this ones easy as most teams have never played each other before but here is a preview for the Quarter finals this weekend

Saturday 4 August

Manukau United (NPL) v Cashmere Technical (MPL, SIL), Centre Park, Mangere, KO 2pm

Manukau United are a new club, but they have Kevin Fallon at the helm and he has won the cup before with Nelson United. Although he probably provided some easy motivation for Cashmere Technical when he described them in his blog as Aaron Clapham and 10 other blokes!

Cashmere Technical won the cup in 2013 & 14

PICK Think Manukau will win due to the home advantage, whatever the score follow Manukau United on twitter for an entertaining afternoon, the account would make even the dullest 0-0 draw seem entertaining!

Onehunga Sports (NPL) v Western Suburbs (CL), Waikaraka Park, Onehunga KO 2pm

This is THE game of the round, defending champions against probably the most exciting football team in NZ for a long time

Onehunga will be with out their coach, who is away in Fiji with the U20s. Wests could have lost 5 players to the U20s but they haven't gone

Wests have won the Cup three times, 1935, 71 and 2006

PICK a very entertaining game with some lovely football, think Wests will edge it but wouldn't be surprised if it goes to pens

All I really know is if you are in Auckland and trying to pick which game to go to, pick this one

Wairarapa United (CL) v Birkenhead United (NPL), Masterton Memorial Park, KO 5pm

Rapa 2011 winners up against Birko 2016 winners, another one that is very hard to pick and could easily go to pens

Sunday 5th August

Nelson Suburbs (MPL, SIL) v East Coast Bays (NPL), Saxton Field, Nelson, KO 2pm

Nelson Suburbs best run in the cup came in 2008, they got to the semi finals that year where they lost 2-1 to......East Coast Bays, ECB went on to win the cup that year which is their best ever performance

PICK I'd love to say Nelson, but got a feeling that ECB will be too strong for them

Noticed that Onehunga sports are saying on their Facebook page that NZ Football will not permit them to Livestream this match!

.....

FFS.

It's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

They should have just done it.

except they'd likely get a sizeable fine if they just did it

I imagine it'll have something to do with Sky and NZF just giving away broadcasts rights for the Chatham Cup (thanks Andy). 

If Sky is involved they'd probably take them to court too.

Travesty that rights are taken away from clubs for matches that sky will never ever cover.

Team Wellington pretty much got away scot-free when they livestreamed their semi against Waitak. Though I wouldn't be surprised if NZF has made it clear to clubs since then just how badly they sold everyone out.

they didn't

On twitter in reply to someone bringing it up with NZF

"NZF has no objection to clubs live streaming Chatham Cup games, subject to the club seeking approval of NZF and the live stream being readily available to football fans via accessible platforms that do not require registration, such as the club's social media or website"

I'd love to know if this policy is well known to clubs, or is something they've just made up. Can't see anything on their website related to streaming. "Platforms that do not require registration"... a club's FB page is hardly a troublesome platform FFS. 

Makes you wonder why Onehunga were denied (was it based on their platform of choice?) or they didn't ask thinking the answer would be no.

If it is policy and not just made up then they really do need to make it clear to all clubs.

Manukau on a Mission

www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/65984

Cashmere Tech leading Manukau 2-1 late in the game.

Good audio commentary here:

http://mixlr.com/manukau-united/

Manukau: Issa (1st half)

Tech: Matthysen (first half); Schwarz (second)

Lost audio comm - their internet is down.

Follow last minutes here on Manukau's Twitter:

https://twitter.com/manukauutdfc?lang=en

Full time Cashmere Tech 2 - Manukau Utd 1

Tech through to the semis again.

Sounds from the audio commentary like Tech did well to withstand Manukau pressure in first half to come back and win it in the second. 

Winner from Tom Schwarz from a corner.

That boy scores a lot of goals for a centre-back. 

Wests 4 Onehunga 1

That West’s team is good man

Heard that that West's are losing a couple of their best to European clubs over the next few weeks, prior to the final.

Was Dan Schwarz that scored the winner for Tech.

HT Wairarapa 0 Birkenhead 2

Wests 4 , Onehunga 1. Probably should have been more but Onehunga did well to make a game of it after being 3-0 down early on. Not sure what the opposite of men against boys is ? Onehunga ended with 9 , and Wests had a player (previously substituted I think sent late on. Was surprised at how direct Wests were but probably a good idea as Onehungas game plan was basically to try and physically kick  the  Wests kids. Also Wests tended to over elaborate when they played it slower and muffed a few chances to extend their lead.  Wests too quick generally and a lot of mistimed tackles resulted. Was surprised as to how calm Declan was on the bench and thought it was interesting that he largely stayed out of the dressing room at half time.. Did hear on the touchline that McCowatt and Just off soon.

Updated into final 20 minutes and still 2 - 0

Presumably Callum and Elijah. 

FT Wairarapa 1 Birkenhead 2

Wests were absolute class. No only are they are a bunch of skilled footballers, every single one of them played with their heads and were fully engaged into to whatever Declan was instructing. Played a constantly changing game plan that was orchestrated by the manager on the side of the pitch. And to put the polish on it, they're even willing to work their arses off closing down, etc.

Right from the get go Onehunga turned up to play "kick the kids" and were rightly got punished for it. Could have easily been more cards.

Was following the Manukau game on twitter. A generous serving of salt right through the updates!

Manukau United are a new club, but they have Kevin Fallon at the helm and he has won the cup before with Nelson United. Although he probably provided some easy motivation for Cashmere Technical when he described them in his blog as Aaron Clapham and 10 other blokes!

Cashmere Technical won the cup in 2013 & 14

Hey Kev, how's it going? Sorry, probably should have told you, those other 10 lads are just as good as AC :)

Onehunga 1-4 Wests

Wests played better, more skilful football and could have won by more.

Onehunga (by their twitter feed) conceded 8 yellow cards to six players (i.e. two sent off), all for foul play. One of the yellows (to their captain) could have been a straight red - their card count could have been higher. Is it time NZ Football directed refs to toughen up on foul play, so skillful players can develop?

Wests - one red for abusing the match officials, one contested yellow for diving (Billingsley; I'd question if he has the ability to dive) and two yellows for foul play.

That tells the story - a traditional physical-to-dirty NZ team vs a team playing skillful possession based football (though Wests did play a few long balls towards Billingsley; probably a good tactic in this game).

Standout players today IMO for Wests were Awad, then a gap to Just and McCowatt.

Awad looked the best of the Wests. Best touch, really nice; also very fast, good passing, dribbling and vision. Like Singh, but faster - or Krishna, without quite the finishing ability (in this game). Dangerous in possession, and drew a great save from Caunter with a shot from 20m out.  Would be interesting to see how he went at a higher level. NZ / Somali; 24.

Just and McCowatt also showed good touch, passing and vision but both made a few mistakes.

For Onehunga - Sean Lovemore was aggressive, determined, skillful at times and effective. Their late sub (41 - Boon Ozawa?) didn't get much of a run but looked promising.

Edge - passionate and vocal, full of instructions. I wonder if the team would play even better if he left them to it.

Here's hoping Wests win the cup.

Heard a few people around me commenting that Wests were playing long-ball. (lol)

The difference being that they'd keep possession and wait until Onehunga set a high defensive line, then they wouldn't hesitate to play over top.

Not stupid at all when:

a) your players are fast

b) the opposition is playing a high line and

c) the people playing the long balls aren't being pressured

Over the last year Wests have found that teams have packed the middle and sat deep against them, so they have focused on exploiting the counter and the spaces in behind when teams do press a bit higher. People misinterpret why Declan likes his teams to keep the ball. It's not about passing the ball into the back of the net every time, it's about controlling the game and then finding the way to break the opponent down, whether it's playing through, around, or over. This is Declan's best team so far, in part because they're very adaptable without having to alter their basic shape or playing style. Whoever they get next, they will find a way to score goals.

I have watched Wests a number of times over the last couple of years and one of their strengths  is their variation in  play. They  are not adverse to playing long balls when they have to and they like to play the ball in behind defenders down the flanks,. The only time I thought they over did the long ball was against Bay Olympic in The Chatham Cup last year.

FT Nelson Suburbs 1 - Alex Ridsdale 43 min East Coast Bays 0

Well draw Monday/Tuesday is going to be interesting. Have Auckland (Birkenhead), Wests (Wellington), Suburbs (Nelson) and Tech (Christchurch). Quite possible there will be no semi in Auckland. Be really interesting to see if NZF still hold the final at QBE if there is no Auckland team. Though that could still be dictated by the Kate Sheppard Cup probably still having Auckland team in it. 2x Auckland with Glenfield and Forrest Hill, Wellington with United and Dunedin with Technical.

both Auckland teams are playing each other in the KS Cup semi so only be 1 Auckland team in that final

There is precedent for NZF moving the final, they played it in Palmerston North when Napier and Wairarapa made the final in 2011

and they moved it to Christchurch in 2013 when Cashmere Tech made the final against Waitakere and Coastal Spirit were in the womens cup final against Glenfield

Here's hoping for Western Suburbs making the Chatham Cup Final and Wellington United making the KS Cup final!

I’ve known Mohamed Awad since he was young and he’s had experience in the USA, doing the College/Football thing.  He has played national league a few years ago with Waikato and is a player of huge potential. He is also a very nice guy and a top student as well and a very level headed person.  Would be great if someone (like the Phoenix) could give him an opportunity.

Yea the commentary is largely spot on. 

Wests were too good and embarrased Sports in my opinion. Quite a few of the Sports supporters were quite salty after the game blaming the ref for the result. Sports went in early to kick Wests players and got punished for it. Sports simply were not in Wests class and got punished to trying to biff the kids. Maybe they thought the physical game would scare them but up against the Greeks and some of the animals in Central League, they would have seen that all before. Just a dumb tactical ploy from Sports.

First time since 2008 that two South Island teams have reached the semi-final stage.